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R. MCCLENATHEN.

INNER TUBE DEFLATEH. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19. I919,

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R. McCLENATPEN.

KNNER'TUBE. DEFLATER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 19, I919.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

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hildw MM ATTOR Y ins-iron STATES PATENT osnion.

ROBERT MCCLENATHEN, OF CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO, ASSIGNOB, TO KELLY-SPRING FIELD TIRE (10., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION.

INNER-TUBE DEFLQLTER.

Specification of Letters Iatcnt.

Patented Ac 119, isle Application filed February 19, 1919. Serial No. 27 5347.

To ah whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ROBERT MCCLENA- runs, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Cuyahoga Falls, Summit county State of Ohio. have invented a new and useful inner-'lube Dcflater, being a device for eX- tractiug the air from the inner tubes of pneuin tic rubber tires, of which the following a specification. 1

in the manufacture of inner tubes such as are conunonly used in pneumatic tires,

after the tube has been built up and assembled it is usual to inflate it as a test for 'lealmges, after which the air must be removed for economy of space and conveniei in handling as when deflated these occupy only about as much space I as when inflated, and as many factories turn out thousands of these inner tubes every day this deflating operation is a matter of con sidereble time and expense.

llerebrfore it has been usual to deflate these'tubes connecting the valve stem of the tirev tube with. an operating vacuum pump, the tire tube during the deflating operation resting on the floor or a table, with a weight laid on portion thereoi opposite the valve r' m to keep the wall of the tube at that nut from collapsing and closing the interior olilet of the valve thus preventing the outflow of the air, as unless the wall of e tube opposite the valve stem is held clear ;he interior valve opening during the deuiion, the suction produced by the outiing air quickly pulls the wall of the opposite the point of suction against 'ie valve opening and blocks further dollan. lily invention consists of a more conveni6 lent expeditious and less expensive method of .u'n the vacuum process in the deflation, silruiltziueously and automatically by the more operation of. placing the tire tube in position for deflation open a valve in a vacuum system and the one in the valve Hl'Clll oi the tire tube; and pinch up a portion of the tire tube opposite the opening in the valve stem and, hold the sameclear of the opening during the deflating process.

in practice I use several units of the up psrutus assembled in a row on one frame and connected with one vacuum system so that several tires may be in process of deflation simultaneously; one man being able .to keep live or six machines in operation at the same time.

In the annexed drawings Figure .1 front view of the apparatus with a section of tire tube positioned for deflation, the frame work, vacuum pipe and tank being substan tially diagrammatic. i

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus with a section of the tire tube positioned for defiation.

al view of the upper portlon of the apparatus positioned ready Fig. 3 is a section -to receive and grasp the tire tube.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of one unit.

Fig. 5 is a sectionalview on line 5-5 Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows details of the vacuum valve with the end-oi the tire tube valve stem in the position occupied duringthe deflating process.

Like numeuls refer to like parts in all figures.

The apparatus consists of a suitable upright supporting frame of convenient height consisting of standards 1., with a substantial head or cross piece 2 to which the printipal Working parts are attached and which is provided with suitable openings to permit the operation of link bars --31 and lever 32. This irumon'lso supports vacuum pipe '3 on brackets 4 and bolster 5 securely held in place by twisted anchor strap 6. Behind standards 1, is located vacuum tank 7 which connects through pipe 8 with a vacuum pump not shown. The end of vacuum pipe 3 terminates in :1 vacuum valve 3 shown in detail Fig. 6 which valve consists of movable plug 9 with enlarged head 10 which head terminates in nose piece 11 and is equipped with a fabric washer 12 which contacts with the end of the valve stem 13. Securely attached toplug 9 is cup piece 14 which except during the ddlutiug' operation is held in contact with a rubber washer 15 b vcoiled spring 16, which coiled spring is of suilicicnt strength to overcome the pull or suction of the vacuum through the orifice 17. The lower end of the vacuum valve Fig."

6 is also equipped with a rubber washer 17 which contacts with the beveled shoulder of the enlarged head 10 when this shoulder is forced up against the washer 17 as it is dur ing the process of. deflation.

The ordinary inner tube valve stem contains a movable central. pin 18 which when pushed inward permits the imprisoned air in the tire tube to escape. Other-parts of the apparatus will be best understood by describing the method of operation.

-When not in use the movable parts of the apparatus stand as shown in Fig. 2 (eliminating section of tire tube 19, and valve stem 13 from the drawing) being held in position by the counter weight 34. and coiled spring 35.

To operate the invention the workman with his foot presses down lever 25 wh ch is pivoted on bracket26. This operation raises rod 27 and the projecting pin 28 located just beneath the horizontal arm of bell crank 29 and which is raised with the movementof rod 27 carrying the horizontal arm of bell CI'En i 29 which is pivoted on pin 29. This movement opens a we 21-22 through the swing of the perpendicular arm of bell crank 29 and the connecting link bars 30-31 which are pivotally attached to, and held in place by stationary bracket 38 and pivotally connected with the descending arm of bell crank 29, these link bars passing through "suitable openings in the cross piece offthe supportingframe. raising of rod 27. also simultaneously raises the Horizontal arm of lever 32 which is pivotally attached to red 27 and which movement depresses fork 23 which is rigidly mounted on the descending arm of lever 32.

The inflated tube 19'is then placed on supporting pegs 20, with the valve stem pointed upward, the tube being twisted for that this reversal of position. The metal base' purpose, its flexibility readily permitting of the valve stem at the same time is slid over the prongs of fork 23; the foot of the workman is removed from lever 25, and counter weight 34: and coiled spring 35 cause the parts to resume their normal or former position, jaws 2l22 'have closed and pinched up a portion of the tire tube as shown in dotted lines Fig. 2 while the prongs of fork 23 have raised the tire tube valve stem 13 forcing the end thereof firmly against fabric washer 12 with the result that the nose piece 11 penetrates'valve stem 13 forcing down pin 18 and at the same time the vacuum valve plug 9 is forced upward leaving a clear space between cap piece 14 and rubber washer 15. The nose piece 11 is pierced with small holes one of which is shown 33 Fig. 6 the air then has a free passage through the tube valve stem 13, holes'in the nose piece 11, plug 9, orifice 17 in the direction shown by the arrows Fig. 6 and finally through vacuum tube 3 to vacuum tank 7 which tank is kept'in the condition of vacuum by the ordinary vacuum pump not shown in the drawings. vacuum process is started or stopped-by operating valve 38. Valve 37 is used only in The The

case repairs are needed to the vacuum valve best shown Fig. 6.

Owing to the smallness 'of the opening in the tube valve stem it takes quite some time to deflate a tube, and a single workman will have time to operate a battery of five ,or six v of these machines simultaneously, only one exhaust system being required.

I claim as my invention v 1. In a machine for deflating inner tubes of pneumatic tires, a pair of mounted 0 posing jaws, 'a mounted fork having prongs, means to open or close said jaws and raise or lower said fork whereby the interior wall of an inner tube may be held out of contact with the base of the inner tube valve stem of pneumatic tires, a pair of pivotally mounted opposing jaws, a mounted fork having prongs movable vertically, a foot lever and counterweight connected with said jaws and-fork, a vacuum tank, an intake valve connected to said vacuum tank, and means to hold-the end of said valve stem of said inner tube in air tight connection withsaid intake valve.

4. In a machine for deflating inner tubes ofpneumatic tires, an intake valve connected with a. vacuum tank, a pair of opposing jaws pivotally mounted and adapted to grip and hold a portion of an inner tube, a mounted fork having prongs movable vertlcally and adapted toengage and hold the valve stem of an inner tube, afoot lever and counter-Weight connected with said jaws and fork whereby said jaws may be opened or closed and said fork may be raisedor lowered at will and in simultaneous c0'drdination with each other, and whereby the valve stem of said inner tube may be held in air tight connection with said intake valve.

5. In a machine for deflating inner tubes of pneumatic tires, the combinatio of a pair of pivotally mounted opposing jaws,a

mounted fork movable vertically having prongs adapted to hold the valve stem of an inner tube, a vacuum tank having airintake valve connected therewith. means to open and hold open the valve of said inner tube and said intake valve simultaneously.

6. In a machine for deflating inner tubes of pneumatic tires, the combination of a pair of pivotally mounted opposing jaws adapted to grip and hold a portion of an inner tube, a mounted fork movable vertically having prongs adapted to hold the valve stem of an inner tube, means to open or close said jaws and raise or lower said prongs at will, a, vacuum tank conneote, with an intake valve, means to hold "said im; ner tube valve stem in air tight 'oontaell'f with said intake valve and means to open and hold open simultaneously the valve in said valve stem and said intake valve.

7. In a machine for deflating inner tubes of pneumatic tines, the combination of 11 pair of pivotally mounted opposing jaws adapted to grip and hold a noftion of an inner tube out of contact wit the base of the inner tube valve stem, 2 inounte l fork having prongs adapted to hold: the valve stem of an inner tube, at vacuum'tenk enii an intake valve connected therewith, a foot lever and counter-weight connected with said. jaws and fork whereby the interior Well 01 said inner tube may be held out of contact with the base of said inner tube valve stem. during the deflating process.

ROBERT MCCLEEATHEE? 

